Murray, Ky.–The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has initiated an online survey seeking public input as part of a Small Urban Transportation Study of traffic safety and congestion in Murray and Calloway County.
According to KYTC District 1 Project Development Engineer Chris Kuntz, local knowledge of traffic patterns and safety issues in the Murray area will provide critical direction for the study.
“People who drive the same roadway day after day become aware of traffic flow issues that need to be addressed. They are sometimes things that aren’t otherwise apparent from a traffic engineering standpoint,” Kuntz said.
The survey, which will be on the Web for 30 days, is online at http://metroquestsurvey.com/hd3w3c. It uses Geographic Information System mapping, so participants can drop a pin and leave a description of conditions worthy of study at specific locations.
Kuntz said the study is to identify long-term projects for future planning, as well as short-term improvements that can be implemented quickly and effectively.
“The more feedback we get from the community, the better. Traffic analysts will use information gleaned from the survey to aid in investigating traffic patterns. Public comments will be combined with police crash data to provide a better understanding of big-picture issues in and around Murray,” Kuntz said.
The study will specifically seek input on such issues as:
- Bottlenecks or congested intersections with long waits.
- Areas where visibility of oncoming traffic is obscured.
- Curves or narrow lanes or shoulders.
- Intersections where approaching traffic is difficult to see.
- Intersections that could benefit from a turn lane.
Once responses are collected, KYTC engineers and consultants will conduct a technical analysis of each location to develop proposals for safety and traffic flow enhancements at specific sites.
A study report will be published, identifying improvement priorities and planning-level cost estimates. The information can then be used to aid decision-makers as they seek funding for proposed projects and adjustments to traffic flow configuration. Further funding will be necessary to advance any improvement concepts identified during the study.
For additional project information or special assistance, contact KYTC Murray Study Manager James Tilley at James.Tilley@ky.gov or call (270) 898-2431.